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Feasibility studies on use of solar thermal energy for electricity production with thermo-electric generators – a case study in India

Rupsha Bhattacharyya

Abstract


The possibility of producing electricity using solar thermal energy harnesses through flat plate collectors working with water and commercial thermoelectric generator modules has been explored for eight locations in India. This is an alternative to solar photovoltaic electricity production. The most suitable site for setting up such facilities has been identified on the basis of total electricity generation per annum. Even though the overall energy collection efficiency of such an arrangement is quite low and electricity costs are high at present, it can be improved through incremental improvements in the system components. The major advantage of the proposed scheme lies in obtaining emissions free energy in a sustainable fashion in a decentralized manner.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.37628/jrec.v4i2.686

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